Wow! You guys are really passionate about hating Alice and Edward! Like I said, I am attempting to make them likeable, but if you don't then that's cool too. They will cause some drama, but no worries…. This is a Jasper/Bella pairing and that will not change, although friendships will be forged. Just have some faith, guys and gals!

As always, I own nothing but this plot (but I'm contemplating kidnapping the Major, anyone willing to help?)!

Chapter 3

Alice and I walked in silence until finally she began to speak. I assume that she was waiting until we were out of earshot.

"I know this must be confusing for you, Bella."

"Um, that would be the understatement of the year." Was my blunt response.

"Jasper seems very protective of you," she mused.

"I suppose so. Other than Peter and Charlotte I'm his only friend. I'm pretty protective of him as well. Not that there's much I could do against vampires." She looked at me thoughtfully for a moment.

"Would you say that you would do anything for him?" I stopped walking and looked at her.

"If it was best for him, of course," I answered truthfully.

"What if I told you that by you letting him go and going with Edward that Jasper could have a real chance at a life? A life where he hunted animals and could feel good about himself. A life where he had a mate that would love him and give him everything he needed to be happy. I have seen that life for him, Bella." I nodded thoughtfully, ignoring the pain in my chest at the thought of leaving him.

"Jasper and I were supposed to meet years ago. He would be going to school among humans and he would be part of a functional and loving family who supported him. If things had happened the way they were supposed to, you and Edward would be married by now and we would be sisters. Jasper would be your brother. You and Emmett would hunt together and cause all sorts of mischief. Esme and Carlisle would be doting on both of you and we would all be happy." Alice looked wistful and if not for the pain in my chest it would have sounded lovely. But the pain was there, and it was real.

"So, if that would all happen, why would I have to let Jasper go now? We're friends. There is no reason that I would keep him from having that life."

"Because you rely on one another too much already. You would lean on one another instead of Edward and I and things would not develop as they should." Alice answered as if it were the Gospel. What I couldn't be sure of was whether or not she was telling me the whole truth. Knowing the future was a tricky thing. What was to stop her from manipulating things to her own advantage?

I voiced these concerns and Alice simply giggled.

"Bella, I am not a monster! Silly girl! If I thought Jasper would be better off without me, I would not have even come here. You have been helping him, and you've done a wonderful job… but I've seen what he could be. No one will force anything on you. This is all your decision. Jasper will go along with whatever you decide."

"Ha!" I barked out a laugh. "I don't have that much control. He tolerates me at best most of the time."

"You underestimate how much he cares for you, Bella. And you two would have a future together, I won't lie. But his future with me would be so much better for him. You wouldn't push him the way he needed. You couldn't help to control his urges for human blood. I could. I have loved him for years, Bella and he could love me too."

"If I just let him go would I have to go with Edward? I don't even know him." Part of me was screaming that I was insane for even considering the idea, but I wanted Jasper to be happy.

"Edward would never force you, but Bella you would be so happy together. You just need to give him a chance." She paused for a moment, deep in thought. "How about we stay here for a while? We could all get to know each other. You just have to spend more time with Edward and the family and give me time alone with Jasper." Her eyes were pleading with me to agree.

"This is Jasper, Peter, and Charlotte's home. That would be their decision. But if they agree then I will do what you ask." I could practically feel my heart breaking at the thought of staying away from Jasper, but I would do anything if it meant Jasper being happy and living in peace.

"Oh, thank you, Bella!" Alice hugged me tightly and I wished I could share her enthusiasm.

Alice practically skipped all the way back to the house and we were met on the porch by Jasper and Peter. Jasper was pacing like a caged lion and Peter was scowling me as if he knew exactly what was going on. I looked at him, pleading for him to keep quiet and he nodded his agreement but his expression told me that we would be discussing the matter later.

Jasper stopped his pacing and relief flooded his face but my emotions must have given me away. I had somewhat learned to shut my emotions off to him and I immediately locked them down and gave him a small smile. Edward stepped into the doorway and Alice nudged me. I ignored the pained expression on Jasper's face as I walked by him in Edward's direction.

"Little girl?" Jasper grasped my hand and I gave him another smile and pulled away. Edward and Alice must have been having a silent conversation about our talk because he smiled at me and offered his hand. I didn't take it, but followed him into the house.

"What the fuck did you say to her?" I heard Jasper's voice and immediately ran to the porch to see him with his hands around Alice's tiny throat.

"Jasper!" I cried.

His head snapped in my direction and the black slowly receded so that his eyes were crimson again.

"She said something to you! I know it! They're trying to take you away!" Jasper was projecting anger and panic. I ran to his side and traced his scar, willing him to calm down.

"Jasper, everything is fine. Alice just explained some things to me, and she's right. About everything. Now let her go, Jay." His grip on her tightened and he got nose to nose with her.

"What. The. Fuck. Did. You. Say. To. Her?"

"Jay, come on, let her go," I pleaded, worried that the rest of the Cullens would gang up on him.

"You can't have her! None of you!" He was completely losing control.

"Peter! Please stop him!" I screamed and he hissed at Peter as he came closer.

"Major, if you lose control you could hurt Bella. Calm down, man." Peter lowered his head and held up his hands in a show of submission.

"I want them gone! Now!" Jasper bellowed as he threw Alice to the ground.

No one moved or even made a sound, too worried that he would lose it again.

"Jasper," I whispered and he immediately had me in his arms.

"They'll leave and things will go back to normal, little girl," he cooed as he buried his nose in my hair.

"We're not leaving her here with you when you can so easily lose control," Edward spat as he made his way to Alice's side.

"I'd never hurt her! You all show up here thinking you can just swoop in and take everything away from me! I'll kill you all before I let you take her away!" His body began to shake again and before anyone could react he was carrying me bridal style and running.

When we finally stopped Jasper sat me on the ground and started pacing.

"Do you want to go with them, little girl? Do you want to leave me?" He looked so pitiful. I had no idea how to answer. Alice said she would be better for him, but maybe she was wrong. He obviously wanted nothing to do with any of them.

"I don't want to leave you, but Alice said…"

He cut me off. "Alice said what?"

"She said that she could help you and make you happy. She said that she could do things for you that I couldn't. She promised me that she could give you peace and show you another way to live." I was rambling and having a mild panic attack. It was all too much.

"Little girl, look at me." He lifted my chin so that I was staring into his crimson eyes. "No one could help me any better than you. Just tell them to leave. Things were good before, right?"

"But, Jay, what if she's right? She said that if things would have happened the way they were supposed to you guys would be in love and happy. Don't you want that?" I had to know.

"Yes," he whispered and I had my answer. I was relieved when Edward and Alice stepped through the trees. Who wouldn't want love from someone like Alice?

"Okay," I said softly before kissing his cheek and making my way to Edward. Alice walked past me and placed her hand on my shoulder before mouthing "thank you".

"Wait! That's not what I meant!" Jasper's voice quickly became muffled as Edward threw me on his back and took off. I held back the tears that threatened to fall and when we reached the house I walked directly past a worried-looking Peter and Char.

"Don't do it, Bells," Peter pleaded and I walked to my room without answering him, locking the door behind me. It wouldn't do any good if any of them really wanted to get in, but I hoped they would respect me.

I thought about packing, but remembered that I didn't have anything. It was just as well. Maybe I could go back home to my dad. I could just tell him… what? That I was kidnapped by vampires? Yeah, that wouldn't work. And I had a feeling that humans weren't allowed to just walk around knowing about the existence of vampires.

"Isabella?" Edward's voice drifted through the door.

"Just a second," I answered as I wiped the tears from my face.

I opened the door and he walked in, shutting it behind him.

"This must be confusing for you." I nodded my answer since I didn't really feel like speaking.

"I know that you care about him. He cares about you too. But it's different for him. He sees you as his life preserver, not as a lover. Alice could really help him. He could love her. She already loves him, just like I already love you." I knew that my eyes must have been the size of saucers.

"You don't even know me!" I cried.

"But I do. I've watched you for years through Alice's visions. I've seen what we would have been already if I hadn't run away like a coward. I've also seen what we still could be. You just have to let me show you."

Didn't I deserve to be loved? What sucked was that Jasper was the one I wanted to love me. But Edward was right. I've helped Jasper and he doesn't want to let go of that. Once he spent time with Alice he would just leave me anyway. I knew then just how quickly I had fallen for Jasper. I always laughed at the girls who were going on about how in love they were after a month of dating. Now I was one of them… only Jasper and I had never even kissed. I was pathetic and the sooner I could get over it, the better.

The door crashed open and Jasper barreled through, eyes blazing.

"Who do you Cullens think you are? Bella and I were talking. I had things to say!"

"Jasper," I stopped him "it's okay. We don't need to talk about it anymore. I want you to be happy, Jay. Alice can do that for you. You admitted what you want. We'll always be friends, but I need to leave so that you can bond with Alice. If you're depending on me then you'll never do that."

"What the fuck are you talking about? What the fuck did you two say to her?" He was going to lose it again and I was just too spent to deal with it.

"Jasper, you told me it's what you want! Now I am exhausted from all of this shit, so if you don't mind I am going to bed now." I pointed at the door. Edward immediately left, but Jasper stayed rooted to his spot at the end of my bed.

"Little girl, please? Just let me say what I need to say and then I'll do whatever you want." I sat on the bed, defeated and Jasper pulled me into his lap.

"Jay, I really don't want to talk anymore tonight. Can we just talk later, after I've slept?" He looked at me thoughtfully before nodding and placing me on the bed. I expected him to leave, but instead he pulled me into his side and ran his fingers through my hair.

"Sleep, little girl, it'll all be better in the morning," he murmured and kissed my forehead.

I have no idea how long I slept, but when I woke up it was still dark out and Jasper was nowhere in sight. I made my way downstairs and found Edward on the couch, reading a book.

"Good morning, Bella," he smiled and I gave him a small smile in return, pleased that he wasn't calling me Isabella anymore.

"Where is everyone?" I asked, looking around.

"Alice took Jasper hunting. She thought it would be good for him to see what our lifestyle is all about." I nodded, knowing that it was starting; the beginning of the end for my life with Jasper.

"I'm just going to make some coffee." I pointed in the direction of the kitchen and Edward smiled warmly at me.

Once my coffee was done I took my cup and walked to the porch, sitting on my favorite bench and staring out into space. I had a lot to think about and I needed to get on with whatever decision I was going to make. I knew that it would be best for Jasper if I left him with Alice. She was already teaching him how to be better by doing something that I couldn't. Even if I was turned to become a vampire, from what I had been told of newborns, there was no way that I could help him if I was constantly thirsting for human blood myself.

I looked up to see Alice and Jasper emerging from over the hill. Jasper was laughing at something Alice was saying. He looked free from the turmoil that usually came with him feeding. My decision was made. He would be better off without me. I just had to figure out how to get away without allowing him to talk me out of it. Alice was right. Jasper and I were very dependent on one another and he would be reluctant to let go of that connection.

Jasper saw me and in a flash he was at my side.

"How was the hunt?" I asked, genuinely curious.

"Well, the flavor wasn't great, but I was able to eat without being bogged down by emotions. It was pretty great, little girl." He was actually smiling, showing no signs of tension at all.

"That's great, Jay." I patted his leg and got up from the bench, making sure to keep my emotions hidden.

Alice stopped on the porch, grinning like a mad woman. I knew that she had seen my decision and was thrilled. She squeezed my shoulder reassuringly and began talking to Jasper animatedly. I knew that she was trying to distract him, and I was thankful.

"Bella," Peter caught me by the arm.

"What's up, Pete?" I asked, attempting to sound happier than I felt.

"Let's go for a walk, B." His tone told me that it was not open for discussion.

Peter must have been in a hurry because I was slung onto his back and before long we were miles away from the house.

"Who lit a fire under your ass today, Pete?" My attempt at a joke went unnoticed.

"What the fuck do you think you're doing, Isabella?" Peter was angry. Peter was never angry.

"I am giving Jasper the chance at a real life. That's what the fuck I'm doing. Did you see how happy he was to be able to feed without all the usual feelings that come with it? I can't help him with that!"

"Have you ever thought that maybe the little pixie is wrong? I don't think she's sharing everything with you about the possible future outcomes. Sure, he would change his diet with her, but he wouldn't be happy. You can't be happy away from your mate, Bella."

"Well, then it's a good thing Alice is his mate," I spat, tired of his attitude. I was trying to do the right thing and he was making it more difficult.

"She's not! What the hell is with you people? She knows she's not his mate! If she was, he never would have been able to lay a harmful finger on her! Jasper already has a mate!" I looked at him, shocked. What the hell was he talking about?

"Don't be stupid, Bella! I'm talking about you! I knew it from the moment he didn't kill you on that sidewalk. Char and I were waiting for you two to figure it out on your own, but there's no time for that now!" Peter tugged at his hair in frustration, something I had never seen him do.

"Peter, I know that you don't want me to leave, but I'll be back. I'm just going away long enough to give Alice and Jasper some time. You don't have to concoct some crazy story." I smiled at him, knowing that I would miss him too.

"Since when are you this stupid, Bella? Have the Cullens fried your brain or something?"

"Peter, please just stop! I already feel like I'm being pulled in ten different directions! I have to do this for him, so just drop it!" I hit my knees and fell into a fit of sobs.

Edward was instantly in front of me and I didn't even question how he knew where we were. I knew that Alice had seen what happened and told him.

"Can we leave now?" I asked him through sobs.

"Anything you want, Bella," he smiled gently at me.

"Peter, can you tell him…" Peter cut me off.

"If you're leaving you can tell him your damn self!" Peter's red eyes were blazing and I simply nodded. There would be no goodbye to Jasper. He wouldn't let me leave and I couldn't bear to say it anyway.

"Do you need to get anything before we go?" Edward whispered.

"No. Nothing there belongs to me." And nothing did.

"Okay, Bella. Any idea where you would like to go?"

"Um, somewhere by the water. I know that you can't go out in the sun, but the only time I've been near the ocean was in Forks, and it wasn't exactly what I had in mind." I made a sad attempt at a smile.

"I know just the place, but we better go. Peter will be home any time now and Jasper will be looking for you soon. Are you sure you want to do this, Bella?" Even though it would have pained Edward, he would have taken me back to Jasper. Maybe I could be happy too… eventually.

"Let's go then."

I ignored the pain in my chest as Edward and I got farther and farther from Jasper, determined to let him have the life he deserved.

*peeks out from behind laptop* Now before you all go on a rampage, I warned you that there would be some drama. Bella is pulling her self-sacrificing crap, I know, but I am trying to stay in canon as much as possible (minus the Major, of course) and the Bella in the books was the same way. Just hang in there, guys! For all the Alice haters… the next two chapters should be highly enjoyable for you ;)

I want to give a shout out to Nostalgicmiss who talked me into this madness in the first place and has held my hand the entire way. She is the best! If you guys haven't checked out her stuff then shame on you! Go and do it now!

And a special thanks to MissRainLover for her rec in Untouchable! It is such a fun story! The Major is all sorts of bossy and crazy!